In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Marion Roach Smith—author, memoir coach, and one of the most no-nonsense, truth-telling voices in the writing world.
We talked all about memoir writing—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s one of the most powerful tools for making sense of your life and sharing your story with the world. Marion shares how her background in journalism shaped her writing process, and how she developed what she calls the “memoir algorithm”—a simple but profound method to help you find the universal themes in your personal experiences.
We also got into the role AI is starting to play in the writing world, what it actually takes to get published, and why she believes everyone has stories worth telling. If you’ve ever wanted to write a book—or simply learn how to express yourself more clearly and courageously—this conversation will light a fire under you.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
- Why writing with intent is everything
- How memoir is different from autobiography—and why it matters
- The “memoir algorithm” Marion uses to help writers craft strong, universal stories
- Why you don’t need to wait for closure to write
- Her take on AI’s role in the writing process
- Tips for getting published in today’s landscape
- The radical act of sharing your humanity on the page
Ready to write your story?
Marion’s work has helped thousands of people turn their lived experiences into powerful, published work—and after this conversation, I know you’ll be inspired to do the same.
Meet Marion
Marion Roach Smith is the author of four books, including The Memoir Project, A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life (Grand Central Publishing). A former staffer at The New York Times, she has been a commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered and a talk show host on Sirius Satellite Radio. She currently runs a writing lab called The Memoir Project and teaches memoir worldwide at marionroach.com.
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